Chapter 4

Cindy stared at the papers in disbelief, wondering if I was being serious. It was just one heart, and I actually had the nerve to ask for a divorce over it.

She grabbed the box of pastries and hurled it into the trash. "If you don't want this family, then don't ever come back."

Her phone rang just then, and she picked it up.

"Cindy? Where has Hayden been lately?"

It was Dad, which was rare. He rarely called to ask about me. Usually the only name out of his mouth was Tristan's.

Cindy thought it over and realized my parents were the only people who could pressure me into showing my face. And since Tristan had almost healed anyway, she told Dad about the surgery.

My parents rushed to the hospital that night. The moment Tristan saw them, he couldn't stop crying. The three of them held each other and sobbed for a while before my parents finally asked about me.

"Where's your brother? He's right here in the hospital. He can't even be bothered to come see you?"

Tristan hesitated. "He already left the hospital."

Mom held Tristan tighter. "Left the hospital? He's got some nerve. A few days after surgery and he's already running around out there like he can't die."

Dad cut in. "Watch what you're saying. Tristan had the surgery, sure, but there's no guarantee there won't be problems down the road. If Hayden drops dead, what will happen to Tristan then?"

Mom caught herself and knocked on wood. "Don't jinx it. Even if he does die, he'd better not go before Tristan needs him. Sweetheart, don't worry. Dad and I will always take care of you."

Tristan felt a wave of warmth at their words.

The next day, Cindy walked into the room to find my parents gathered around Tristan in a cozy family scene. Something about it stung. She realized that she'd never once seen them treat me that way.

"Cindy, thank goodness for you. Tristan's heart is all thanks to your work."

My parents thanked her over and over without once mentioning my name. When Cindy asked if they'd heard from me, their mood soured immediately.

"Why do you care about him? He's out of the hospital, so he's obviously fine. Focus on Tristan instead.

"Tristan's been fragile since he was a kid. Hayden, on the other hand, is healthy as an ox."

They'd always wanted to push Tristan and Cindy together, but Tristan's condition had kept them from saying it outright. Now that the surgery was done, all they needed was for me and Cindy to divorce, and everything would fall into place.

Before Cindy could respond, Kelly walked in. She remarked, "Dr. Green is truly devoted to her husband. She's in here every single day."

My parents heard that and assumed that it was already a done deal. Tristan went a little red, but Cindy's expression turned cold.

"Who told you he's my husband?"

Kelly didn't pick up on her tone and laughed it off. "Everyone on the floor knows. Stop pretending."

Then she walked out to get back to work.

My parents pulled Cindy aside. "Cindy, since Hayden isn't around anyway, it doesn't hurt if your colleagues think that Tristan is your husband. They'll take better care of him that way."

Cindy glanced at Tristan, who looked pale, and swallowed her anger.

Back in the office, she was about to track down Kelly and set the record straight when someone told her that her mentor had come by. She hurried to the department head's office, and the moment she saw David Langston, she threw her arms around him.

"Dr. Langston, it's been so long. How have you been?"

He nodded and looked her over, smiling. "I heard you performed a heart transplant. It looks like I taught you well."

He went on about how he'd operated on Cindy when she was a young girl, and how he never imagined she'd grow up to follow in his footsteps.